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GOP measure to stop early
release of felons fails,
despite bipartisan support
State House Republicans
today made a push to immediately address repeated failures at the state
Department of Corrections. Recent reports reveal the agency has allowed
the unscheduled release of dozens of offenders and also allowed parole
violators to go unpunished until they eventually claimed the lives of
innocent victims.
Republicans asked for immediate consideration of
House Bill 2377, a measure that would stop the early release of
offenders and require the DOC to submit a plan for fixing the
department’s failed community supervision program. The motion was
rejected but received support from three Democrats.
Reps. Richard DeBolt and
Gary Alexander
said Republican lawmakers will continue to stand up for families over
felons.
“The mismanagement of this agency by the governor’s administration has
cost lives, including those of three law enforcement officers in the
last year. The casual regard for safety and lack of supervision of
dangerous offenders is unacceptable,” said DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “Despite
repeated requests, we have not received a satisfactory explanation from
the department for the mistakes that have been made, and the governor is
saying she didn’t know felons were being released by the agency under
her charge. Republicans want answers, and above all, we want to correct
the failures that have put our communities at risk.”
It was revealed last week that 83 felons – including a Level III sex
offender – were released before serving their full sentences because DOC
had over-allocated the number of offenders placed in King County jails.
The Department of Corrections has suggested that such releases are
common.
House Republicans are asking for expedited approval of House Bill 2377.
In addition to placing a freeze on the early release of offenders, the
bill would also require offenders who violate the terms of their
community supervision to go back behind bars for the remainder of their
original sentence. Under current practice, parole violators often go
unpunished or receive jail sentences as short as 30 days.
“The Department of Corrections’ abysmal performance on felon supervision
has reminded citizens why it’s so difficult for them to trust
government,” said Alexander, R-Olympia. “I supported today’s motion
because I believe we need to send a strong message – to the DOC, to
criminals, to the people -- that we demand accountability, and that
public safety will not be compromised. Today’s vote, combined with the
policies that result in the release of 250 felons into our communities
each month, represent a failure to protect public safety. The next time
an unsupervised felon commits a heinous crime, no excuse will justify
the fact that lawmakers rejected this bill that could have prevented
harm to an innocent victim.”
The motion to take action on House Bill 2377 failed on a vote of 39-58.
The 20th District lawmakers say they will continue to apply pressure to
resolve the failures in DOC’s supervision of offenders in the hopes of
addressing the issue prior to the end of the 2007 session, scheduled for
April 22.
According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, Washington has the fourth
lowest rate of incarceration among the fifty states. For every
additional violent offender incarcerated in prison, that state can
prevent the commission of 2.8 new violent felonies per year. According
the DOC’s own estimates, 3,500 offenders released in 2006 are expected
to commit a new crime by 2011.
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For more information, contact: John
Rothlin, Communications Director: (360) 786-7254
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